Top recruit Nkemdiche headed to Ole Miss

Robert Nkemdiche (red cap) is interviewed after he announced his decision to attend Mississippi on Wednesday at Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga. (USA Today Sports Photo)

Mississippi landed the top prize of the 2013 recruiting class on national signing day, with heralded defensive end Robert Nkemdiche announcing Wednesday he will play for the Rebels.

Nkemdiche, considered the nation's No. 1 overall prospect by Rivals.com and several other scouting services, chose Ole Miss over fellow SEC members LSU and Florida during an early morning news conference held at the auditorium of Grayson High School in Loganville, GA.

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound 18-year-old, a two-time High School All-American who amassed 43 sacks during his prep career, will join a rising Ole Miss program that is coming off a 7-6 season capped by a victory in the BBVA Compass Bowl under the direction of first-year head coach Hugh Freeze.

Crete-Monee's LaQuon Treadwell is among the highly regard prospects who are headed to Mississippi.

Nkemdiche initially had verbally committed to Clemson before reopening his recruitment in the fall. A strong factor in his selection of the Rebels was the presence of his older brother, Denzel, a starting linebacker for Ole Miss who garnered several Freshman All-America honors this past season.

Ole Miss currently sports the No. 11 overall recruiting class according to Rivals. Two-time defending national champion Alabama tops the rankings at the moment, followed by Florida, Ohio State, 2012 BCS title game participant Notre Dame and LSU.

The Gators' haul is headlined by Tampa defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III, listed No. 2 overall in Rivals' top 100. Notre Dame has received a commitment from the nation's third-ranked player, linebacker Jaylon Smith of Fort Wayne, IN.

Ole Miss is also expected to add Laquon Treadwell, the top wide receiver prospect among this year's crop. The Crete, IL native is rated fifth in Rivals' top 100.